EXCLUSIVE…UPDATED WRITETHRU: I’ve just been told that the 14 WGA writers and writer/producers on Sony’s newly ordered TV animated series Sit Down, Shut Up! have walked off the show scheduled to air in primetime on Fox. It’s a dispute over who has jurisdiction over the writing staff: the WGA or IATSE. The problem is that all the Fox TV animated shows now being broadcast on that network are covered under the WGA contract, so the writers assumed their new show would be as well. (Plus, Fox co-owns the show, one of the writers just told me.) But also Sony kept assuring the writers that the series would be WGA-covered — even though the show’s maker is Sony Adelaide which is steadfastly IATSE. (“This was always an IA show,” a Sony exec just told me.) Then, only recently, Sony finally revealed to the writers that the TV toon was to be covered by IATSE. So the studio was lying to everyone – even Sit Down, Shut Up!‘s showrunner Mitch Hurwitz (of Arrested Development fame), as well as The Simpsons writers-producers Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein — all of whom, I’m told, are “upset and sick about this”. Now Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Michael Lynton has involved himself since he oversees the TV division.

On Friday AM, SPE gave this statement to me: “The producer, Adelaide Productions, has been a signatory to the IATSE bargaining agreement for at least ten years, and has been producing animated programming under that agreement. All of the deals made with the writers were specifically negotiated with their agents specifying that this program would be covered by the IATSE bargaining agreement.”

But insiders inform me that all the scribes on Sit Down, Shut Up!, a reworking of an Australian series, are pissed that they struck for four months and now Sony is taking away their right to be repped by the WGA’s new contract. This is exactly what WGA leadership was afraid would happen to toon writers as more Big Media companies turn animation over to IATSE’s jurisdiction because of the weaker terms of that union’s contract. I can’t wait to see what Sony’s next move will be. But its mendacity is shameful in this matter.

By all accounts, the studio played fast and loose with the facts from the start. “Bill, Josh and Hurwitz all took Sony’s statements in good faith that the show would be guild-covered,” one of the writers told me tonight. “Because Sony was saying up and down the line that they were waiting for the pickup before signing with the WGA.” Nor did the writers/producers have any reason to disbelieve the studio since a previous Sony animated TV show, Dilbert, had been under the WGA’s jurisdiction.

And then IATSE’s Local 839 — the so-called Animation Guild Local (formerly Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists) — arrived to everyone’s shock and dismay. “We naively thought it would be resolved, and we were all taken advantage of. We’re saddened we’ve been played like this,” one of the scribes explained to me. “Because for two whole months through last week, Sony was still saying ‘Don’t worry about it. Don’t worry about it. The show will be guild-covered.’ And then this week Sony said, ‘Sorry, the guild is off the table. You guys are going to be IATSE.’ “

None of the writers have signed contracts so none of them have been paid so far. So today, they walked out. “We can’t afford to keep going in to work on good faith.”

The WGA writers/producers went into the WGA to formally ask for the guild’s help in their fight. “We said, ‘We don’t want to be IATSE members. We want you to be our collective bargaining agent,’ ” one of them told me. “Sony has offered to pay the IATSE dues and initiation for us and even said ‘we have internal mechanisms that will give you guys residuals’. But IATSE is not going to kick in our pension and health so we’re not going to vest as soon.”

The scribes stressed to me about their feelings of responsibility as WGA members, especially after going through a strike that was long and bitter and hard-fought. “All the writers are unanimous on this: none of us want to be the writers who roll back WGA coverage of animation. And Mitch was very firm that his show isn’t going to be the one that rolls back guild coverage of animation. It’s really come down to a battle over jurisdiction. It’s not about the money. It’s about the right to be represented by the Writers Guild.”

32 Comments

I thought workers decided which union they wanted to be represented by, not management!

AFTRA is to SAG what IATSE/animation is to WGA.

The same thing is happening to actors. Management is deciding which union the actors will be represented by. Guess which union that is? The lowballing undercutting scumbag union. AFTRA.

Josh • on Jun 12, 2008 8:45 pm

Surely nothing like this will happen in the acting world if the AFTRA deal goes through.

Bonnie Russell • on Jun 12, 2008 9:02 pm

Boom…Ouch…damn.

Three sounds following the rug being pulled out from one’s feet.

PJ Writer • on Jun 12, 2008 9:36 pm

They did the right thing IMO. They had no choice…

SonySucks!!!!!!! • on Jun 12, 2008 9:54 pm

GREED GREED GREED!!!

Simpsons and King of the Hill were originally non-WGA shows, because Fox claimed the shows would become unprofitable if the scribes joined the union. The writers had to moonlight writing movies to get health insurance. Against Fox’s vehement objections, the writers unionized. Well, cut to 15 years later, and both shows are still on the air, making billions, with no end in sight.

Another WGA-Fox animated show, Family Guy, is so lucrative that a spin-off will soon be launched. Clearly, these corps can afford to do the right thing. They just don’t want to.

The actions of these mega-corporations is unconscionable. And on the eve of another potential strike, they’re just plain stupid.

Sony, which had the unearned reputation as a “moderate” during the last strike is particularly sleazy — their sitcoms “Till Death” and The David Spade show are both AFTRA, and will be scab shows if there’s a SAG strike.

The government — particularly if Obama wins — should take a look at the anti-union tactics of Big Media.

George Glass • on Jun 13, 2008 1:41 am

Given how terrible the sitcom market is right now for writers, this is a incredibly brave move– especially for the lower level writers.

A big hats off and thank you for your sacrifice!

Tom • on Jun 13, 2008 3:04 am

I find it hard to believe that SPT execs could be this dense, there must be more to the story. If the story is exactly as it seems then the SPT folks involved should be let go, Sir Howard doesn’t need tone-deaf dolts causing production shutdowns.

Below the Line • on Jun 13, 2008 7:27 am

If the Simpsons writer-producers Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein are so pro-WGA, why were they so busy developing their pilot Worst Class Ever for Nickelodeon, an IATSE shop, during the strike? So which is it guys – do you work WGA or not? THAT show was definitely going to be IATSE. Yet again, WGA wants their cake and to eat it, too. Pathetic.

Murdock • on Jun 13, 2008 7:28 am

Greed? What do you mean greed? Do the writers have to pay for fifteen houses on three continent? Do the writers have to pay for a fleet of private jets? Do the writers even know how much a good bottle of wine costs? Let me tell you, you can’t get a good Cab for under 300 (and that’s in Euros). It’s incredibly expensive to be a media mogul intent on world domination these days and the sooner these tiny insects… er… writers realize that they mean nothing to anyone, the better off my world will be.

Rupert

#44 • on Jun 13, 2008 7:47 am

This is what Sony has been doing with SAG…. All of their new one hour shows….. Cleaner, Beast, Danny Fricke’ and the Fourth Roc Dutton (directed), pilot, were all made under the AFTRA cable agreement. The casting break down for these shows came out saying they were SAG shows, when it came time to sign the contract it was revealed that they were in fact being made under AFTRA jurisdiction………….. part of the plan I am sure.

You should look into this Nikki.

Ted • on Jun 13, 2008 8:08 am

SonySucks!!!!!!!-

So by your math ( I take it you are a studio accountant) Sit Down, Shut Up is, by default, going to make ‘billions.’ Wow, that’s quite a claim. You obviously live and work in bizarro world where every WGA show makes billions upon billions of magical wealth out of nowhere for the common man. Such a philanthropist, you are.

M- • on Jun 13, 2008 8:35 am

Sadly, the government will do nothing regardless of whom wins the election. Obama, like Sony, is another example of stringing people along with big promises, then pulling a fast one when the election/deal is done.

DOUBLE YOUR SALARY • on Jun 13, 2008 8:53 am

You didn’t have a signed deal — ask for double the amount now. If you passed up other WGA opportunities based on what you were told by SONY reps, then sue them for damages.

WRITER UNITE – no more writing until the deal in in writing. That’s ridiculous!

Mickey Mouse • on Jun 13, 2008 9:01 am

Aw shucks, can’t we all get along?

AnotherVerroneSpecial • on Jun 13, 2008 9:10 am

I always check in to this site to see how every news story will be spun anti-studio. It’s like going to a republican site to see how they would be anti-democrat.

HOWEVER, let us not forget that it was the WGA who continued to throw animation under the bus. Patric came from animation and promised long and hard that animation writers would be covered. He got them to picket; he got them to leaflet; he got them to help load the trucks at night during the strike. What he didn’t do, however, was get them covered OR invite them to the end-of-strike party! That’s a fact people – he got them to strike and help and wouldn’t even invite them to the party.

Any issue that is here is here ENTIRELY because the WGA decided to once again toss animation writers aside. There is nothing the animation writers would like more than to escape 839 and join the WGA. Unfortunately, the WGA backing isn’t there.

Of course, be anti-studio all you want. But absolutely everything in this posting is true, and would not have been a problem had the WGA done what it promised – to fold animation writers under its wing.

Verrone Youth • on Jun 13, 2008 9:14 am

“Insiders inform me that all the scribes on Sit Down, Shut Up!, a reworking of an Australian series, are pissed that they struck for four months and now Sony is taking away their right to be repped by the WGA’s new contract.”

Of course, they don’t have a right. They can ask for it. They can strike for it. But if they had a “right” to it, it would be done.

Here’s why a lot of us said focusing on reality when animation and cable were the real front lines was shortsighted and stupid.

And we were right.

Barney • on Jun 13, 2008 11:14 am

Wait… the writers “had to moonlight writing movies”? Boo-freakin’-hoo. Writing movies is a gold mine and what every TV writer I know seeks so that he or she can get out of TV.

WGAwestie • on Jun 13, 2008 11:28 am

To “Below the Line” …

Apples and oranges. Nickelodeon is an IATSE joint and probably will be … oh, forever. Any writer who pitches a show there or goes to work for a show there knows that in advance.

Karenkid • on Jun 13, 2008 11:31 am

I have zero sympathy for the Simpson’s writers!! The most arrogant, most greedy writers in the history of the writing universe. Considering the writing room for them has turned into the writing mansion with 3 guest writing mansions. They have indeed taken advantage of good luck 8 million times over. The rest of the writers on this ugly deal, Hurwitz, you should have known btw, I feel for you have just been screwed without a kiss.

Marcus L. • on Jun 13, 2008 11:33 am

I see you’re working overtime again Nikki. Thanks for your invaluable service. (Don’t let the pc trolls prevent you from dropping the f-bomb once in while! You use it intelligently and rarely gratuitously and besides, that’s why people prefer your site to the papers.)

WhatWriters • on Jun 13, 2008 11:45 am

WHAT ABOUT “MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD” – THE CBS PRIME TIME SHOW THAT’S NOT WGA? DOES THE WGA REALLY BELIEVE THERE AREN’T WRITERS ON THAT SHOW? WHAT DO THEY THINK THE “CONTENT PRODUCERS” AND “WORD EXPERT” CREDITS ARE?

Sony Survivor • on Jun 13, 2008 2:13 pm

Sony went cheap when hiring their TV execs too, and look what THAT got them. Their TV arm is going to come out of this having lost all claim of being a “writer’s studio,” and “Sit Down, Shut Up” WILL BE a WGA show. You get what you pay for, people.

GREG • on Jun 13, 2008 7:11 pm

wah wah wah..sounds like a bunch of babies. they knew that verrone did not get the animation issued covered, so what the heck do they think they can do…the strike is over…you lost…IATSE has animation…WGA has f***all.. and no sympathy

MAKE IT RIGHT • on Jun 13, 2008 8:04 pm

Maybe Bill & Josh and Mitch Hurtwitz and the plethora of other top heavy execs all making TONS of money, will take less of that money and pass down the dollars to the writers to compensate them from LOSING their WGA BENEFITS!!!

Come on, guys, give us little people the doh so we can buy insurance and make sure we don’t lose out on pension. Split the points with us. We’ll all work together to make this a hit. Why should just a few of you win off the sweatshop labor of us?

WGA all the way • on Jun 13, 2008 10:31 pm

Oh shut up all you crew babies. First of all, you’re probably all IATSE plants. IATSE is for all intents and purposes a division of the AMPTP at this point. This will be a WGA show because there is no IATSE writer worth a damn and IATSE knows this and Sony knows this.

And I’m tired of all you crew babies writing about your hard work. You guys are fungible. Anybody can carry a fucking cable or swing a fucking boom. Get real. What jealousy. If you really work so hard, why don’t you go to law school, idiots.